Improvement in mail-bags



F.J.FE1NTHEL.

MAIL-BAG.

Paiented June 27, 1876.

UNITED S'ra'rns;

FREDERIC J. FEINTHEL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAGS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. [79,2SS, dated June 27,1876; application liled May 22, 1876. v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIC J. FEINTHEL, of Cincinnati, Hamiltoncounty, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMail-Bags, of which the following is a speciication:

My invention consists in applying to the open end or mouth of a mail-baga metallic frame, whose peculiar construction enables the bag to beopened with the greatest facility after the padlock has been detached;but when the latter is engaged with an appropriate staple, the aforesaidframe efectually prevents the mouth of the bag being sprung or opened,and, consequently, the mail-matter cannot be either lost or stolen. Thisframe consists essentially of two distinct and unconnected parts ormembers, of which the principal or flanged member is secured to the backot' the bag, and extends the full width of the same. The flanged memberis provided with a down-turned lip, rib, or Valance, so as to alord Vasocket or pocket to receive the upper edge ofthe other member of theframe. This other member is simply a tlat plate or extended tongue,secured to the front of the bag, and of such width as to readily enterthe aforesaid pocket when the pouchis closed.

After being t-hus closed, a staple or link is passed through a slot inthe flanged part ot' the frame and also through a slot in the tongue,which slots are in the same plane when said tongue is inserted in thepocket. A padlock being now engaged with the rear or projecting' end ot'said staple, the act of closure is completed. The aforesaid staple,link, or loop projects from a scutcheon or shield, that is iiexiblyconnected to the front of the bag, with a strap or otherwise, and, ifpreferred, this shield may bc so arranged as to have applied to it a tagor label, suitably inscribed, for designating the destination of themail-bag.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved mail-bag in its opened condition. Fig. 2 is a perspective Viewof the closed bag. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections of the lockingdevices in their open and closed conditions, respectively, saidillustrations being drawn on an enlarged scale.

A represents the front and B 'the rear side of a mailbag, which bag maybe composed of leather, canvas, or any other suitable material, as theconstruction of said pouch or receptacle constitutes no part ot' myinvention. Riveted at b or otherwise securely attached to the upper endof back B is alight but rigid metallic frame, C, of anyv suitable shape,and provided at its midlength with a horizontal slot X. This frame isfurnished at top with a plate, D, whose ends d d incline downwardly andaway from said plate. Depending from the front of this plate is aliange, lip, or valance, E, of any appropriate depth, which flange isnot carried down as far as the slot X, previously alluded to.

By thus constructing the metallic frame, a pocket, F, is affordedbetween flange E and plate C, which pocket is comparatively narrow whenmeasured from front to back, while its length nearly equals the widthofthe bag'.

vRiveted to the front A, as' at d, is an extended tongue, G, of suchshape as to allow its upper or exposed edge to readily enter the grooveor socket F. This tongue is pierced with a longitudinal slot, Z. Theupper corners of the tongue are cut off obliquely, as at g g', whichconstruction enables said tongue to lit snugly under the plate D d d',as shown in Fig. 2. This tongue is not pivoted, or hinged, or otherwisecoupled to the frame C D E, but it is simply secured by rivets to thepouch, in the manner shown, said pouch or bag thereby acting as aflexible joint to allow the tongue being shifted far enough to slip intoor to be disengaged from the pocket F. Attached to the front of the bag,with a strap, H, or other flexible connection, is a shield or scutcheon,I, having a rearwardly -projecting staple, I, adapted to traverse theslots X and Z, and receive the bow of' a padlock, K, as seen in Fig. 4.When the bag is opened, as represented in Figs. l and 3, an ample andunobstructed mouth is afforded for conveniently filling the bag, whichact having been accomplished, the tongue G is tucked into the pocket-F,thereby closing the open end of the receptacle.

The shield I is then lifted up and its staple VJ passed through theslots X and Z, which latter are now in the same horizontal plane,

and, in this condition of the bag, said staple prevents the tongue Gbeing shifted or allowed to drop down from pocket F, so as to expose anopening or crevice of any kind at the top ot' said tongue. Finally, thepadlock K is engaged with' said staple and the bag is then securelyclosed.

As the tongue G extends from side to side ofthe bag, and as its freeedges'arecompletely housed within the frame G D E, it is evident. thelatter completely closes the upper end of the bag, so asto prevent an-yaccess thereto.

It is also evident that the ange E prevents the introduction of anyimplement at the top ofthe tongue G, for the purpose of springing thelatter aside, so as to allow the mail-matter to be stolen.

In this specification, the words front A and back B are -mere relativeterms, and have been employed simply for convenience of description; butit is evident that the frame C D E may he applied to the front ofthevbag, and the tongue G to the back of the same.

A modification ot my invention may be made by substituting a series ofdownwardlyprojecting pins or lugs for the rib E. Furthermore, the shieldor scntcheon I may be coupled either to the fralne G D E or else to thetongue G.

I am aware. that it is not new to apply metallic frames to the mouths ofmail-bags,

carpet-bags, satchels, and similar receptacles, but such frames haveheretofore been made ot' two parts hinged together, which constructionprevents the upper edge of the shit'table member of the frame beinghoused within the cavityor groove `or pocket of the other inember.

I claim as my invention- A mail-bag fastening, consisting of themetallic frame C D E, provided with a pocket,

F, into which latter the upper edge of tongue G is inserted andsecurely1 retained therein by the locking device I J, whose staple Jtrav-

